Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals in University Higher Education: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The role of higher education institutions in promoting sustainability is realised through scientific research and academic activities. It is therefore essential to explore strategies to assess and monitor the implementation of sustainable practices in these institutions. This study set out to examine the mainstreaming of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in higher education institutions. The methodology used was a systematic review of research articles in the Scopus database, conducted between 6 and 20 January 2023. The inclusion criteria covered global university experiences in implementing the SDGs. The review revealed that 28.56% of the publications included were from European universities, 24% from the Americas, 13% from Asia and a smaller number from Oceania (5%) and Africa (2%). The analysis identified indicators to assess adherence to the SDGs, such as number of publications, institutional affiliation, number of reports, disciplinary field, type of course, number of essays, subject area, student/classroom ratio and age of participants. The data collection instruments used were questionnaires, interviews, published articles and field notes. This systematic review details the concern of higher education institutions to measure the impact of their activities in relation to the SDG guidelines, as well as a critical and decision-oriented summary for institutions wishing to initiate the proces